About the Project

People with life-threatening injuries are typically seen by a doctor as soon as they arrive at the emergency room. But in less extreme cases, patients can wait for hours. ProPublica’s interactive news application “ER Wait Watcher,” which crunches three newly-released datasets from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, gives people critical information in a time of need.

The app:

Shows how long on average you’ll be waiting at hospitals nearby.

Displays patient satisfaction scores and the hospital’s phone number.

Factors in current traffic conditions using real-time Google Maps information.

Is optimized for mobile phones so that people can use it quickly and easily on the go.